Ideas to Stay Active After Retirement

Retiring is a wonderful luxury that most seniors have worked toward their entire life. They’ve put in long hours, hard work and sacrificed many things to get to where they are today and nothing sounds more glamorous than sitting back, feet up and relaxing around the house during retirement. However, balancing retirement and activities are crucial to maintaining well-being, balance and a healthy lifestyle.

It’s important that seniors find exercise that they enjoy doing – Whether that is taking a walk first thing in the morning or running around with the grand kids every afternoon. There’s more time available during retirement to promote a healthy fulfilling lifestyle. Routine daily exercise, according to doctors, will improve overall health. Exercise also improves mood and mental capacity. Getting older comes with making decisions that aren’t always fun, planning further for end-of-life, and doing things that can overstimulate the brain, as well as add stress to everyday life. It’s a great time for seniors to surround themselves with friends, take up yoga, get involved in volunteering, or take a class everyday at the local rec center.

Staying social can be a challenge for our elders. Sometimes, when a loved one passes, the world can seem like it’s falling apart, especially when you’ve built your life around them for 30+ years. Although it may be a challenge to keep seniors up and around, a great place to start is at a local senior center where like-minded people are dealing with the same struggles. Knitting club, cards, bingo or quilting clubs, are offered all over the country and provides interactions that can help fight off memory loss, fatigue and depression. Being social reduces stress.

Getting a part-time job seems ridiculous, right? You just quit working – why would you go back? Now is the time to do what you’ve always enjoyed. Maybe you always wanted to work at a book store or the local rec center. Maybe you’ve dreamed of working on the dock in the summer and fueling boats. Whatever it is, it’s good for your health. It improves social skills, mental and physical health and overall well-being. Pick up a seasonal gig at a local business or check tickets at the zoo. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you’ve always wanted to do but never thought you could because it didn’t pay the bills or was more of a hobby than a lifestyle.

Volunteering is good for the soul. It adds emotional, physical, mental and social benefits to your life. It expands horizons, helps avoid social isolation and can lower risk, blood pressure and stress by giving back. Check out the local food bank, pet shelter, soup kitchen or Veteran’s hospitals. Figure out what your passion is and align with it.

Overall, seniors need clear minds and open hearts during Act III of life. Decisions that are made during these times can be stressful and life events can cause social isolation, anxiety and depression. The best way to combat these moments, after retirement, is to stay active, socialize, volunteer or get a part-time job that allows you the flexibility of scheduling. Take these moments in stride, enjoy them, love them and savor them. You’ve worked really hard to get here.

Stay Informed

We know you are trying to find out as much as you can about how to care for your loved one. We hope our resources can help.

The Kabb Law Firm is dedicated to educating the community about Elder Law issues and how Life Care Planning can help. Please see our calendar for events, speaking engagements, and even Kabb Law Firm TV/Radio appearances.

Explore videos about how the Kabb Law Firm protects the dignity of our elders.

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

I have found Ken Kabb to be versatile in his work with an innate ability to innovate, adapt and overcome problematic situations. -

I have found Ken Kabb to be versatile in his work with an innate ability to innovate, adapt and overcome problematic situations. I have know him for a good many years and have found his counsel and recommendations to be thoughtful and well documented. I enjoy him as a friend and a professional. L.C. Bignall